10-26-14: When Goals Are Out Of Reach

Scripture: Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Our Exodus saga continues this Sunday with the death of Moses. God leads Moses up Mount Nebo so that he can see the promised land, only to tell Moses he will not cross over into it.  So close and yet so far.  On the Sunday when the sand mandala will be completed and then swept away, I look at the course of our Tibetan Buddhist friends and wonder if they too will die before they are allowed to return to their homeland in Tibet?  Would they give up their efforts or would they continue working for what they can only see, but not attain for themselves?  Somehow, I don’t think it would make any difference to them.  It certainly didn’t matter to the early church and followers of Jesus.  And yet, I wonder if we are willing to invest our time, money, and energies to work for what we can only see but might not attain for ourselves?  In many ways, the church in the 21st century is wandering in the wilderness.  Do we have the courage to persevere when our goals seem out of reach? See you Sunday.

Yours on the journey,

Pastor B.J.